Faye

A huge brown wolf with jade eyes peers down at me. The top of my head would brush against the underside of his shoulder. He’s just… massive, and I hadn’t expected that.

I swallow hard, trembling, as I tilt my chin to meet his eyes.

“Oh.” It’s the only sound that could possibly leave my lips other than a muffled scream. He tilts his head toward the receding fog in… invitation, I think, to rejoin our group. “Can you–can you talk?”

He holds my gaze for a moment before giving me a wolfish shake of his head. I accept this as a no and shrug, trying to gather my...